Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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I'm not sure the WRX STI would depreciate slower than the S4; especially considering the S4 now has 25,000 miles whereas I'm assuming you meant get a brand new WRX STI. The first 25,000 miles are the biggest.
If I could live with a stick for a daily driver on congested freeways, The STI would be right up my alley. Since I don't want a stick for daily duty, Subaru is out until they develop a good dual clutch auto-manual transmission. At least they don't' embarrass the STi with a CVT option. The Golf R would be a good alternative...., but even if the S4's extra weight keeps it from handling as well, the tuning options on the S4 are quite extraordinary. You can basically turn it into an AWD muscle car that handles reasonably great considering its weight.
The other consideration is the wife is starting to itch for a new vehicle after 8 years with the Civic. Something roomier would be nice since we have a 19-1/2 month old now, and possible wishes for a 2nd in the near future. The Golf SportWagon just surpassed the Forester in the running... TDI; great mileage, and right now diesel is cheap. It is "JUUUUUSSSST" big enough with the significantly elongated rear end, and I'm not sure any vehicle is as space efficient as the new Golfs/GTI's.
The S4 has performed exemplary as the Sport Sedan disguised as a Family Sedan thus far. 2 kids is pushing it though; but maybe not until at least one of them is much older. The worst thing is being told you should go rear-facing with the car seat up to 2 years. Rear-facing takes up MUCH MORE room than front-facing, and I think the statistics that say it's 5X safer are skewed by really bad drivers.
I just didn't plan on racking up so many miles so quickly. I'll be at 30K before you know it. Isn't there data to figure you've spent at least .25/mile? I'm probably overreacting, but I don't hate the Civic. I need to put a better sound system in it though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Part of the reason I've kept the TL so long is that it is really reliable and I've not found anything that moves me a whole lot at a decent price point. So I keep driving the TL while waiting for something more interesting to come along.
You are going to have a tough time going from your V6 powered TL to a 4 Cyl Mazda 3 though.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Yeah, you're giving up the smoothness of the 6 for the potential buzziness of the 4, but the better mileage may make up for that.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Regarding the Mazda, we do have an '07 Mazda 5 and I find the 4 cyl quite refined for a 4. Of course it is not a hot rod but it has a tighter turning circle, better steering feel, and is way more agile than my TL, which is probably why I would consider the Mazda 3. A fully loaded 3 is almost like a baby Bimmer and fully loaded seems to be just as nice from an interior POV, an area where to me the 3-series has always fallen a bit short.
Just wondering what'll happen once the warranty ends on both of them...if any major problems crop up and if we'll both keep them over the eight to nine year plan, Plan A. Time will tell but being the optimist that I am, I'm saying that we'll both make it to year eight...and possibly 9!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Stand by.
Regarding another post about Mazda's and Audi's, I too, find the new A3 interior to be a bit of a let down, but only as compared to what is expected of Audi interiors. I think the '06+ A3 interior was superior. Of course, a GTI today can cost more than my A3 did in 2006, so inflation is a factor. I would say the A3 still has a better interior than any Mazda, but of course you pay for it. Nothing against Mazda, and not trying to bash them, but this is my impression from the last Mazda 3 rental I had a few years back:
1) All-around good economy car.
2) Coming from then being a current A3 owner, it felt like it had really thin sheet metal. Experience felt like I was driving a tin can car down the road as compared to the A3 being a bank vault or tank. Tin can is a bit harsh, probably more appropriate to use that term on the late 90's Kia Sephia rental I had. But there is a noticeable difference.
Here lies andres3
Let Me Tell You About My Neon
I think I favor a bit more of the luxury side compared to some of those on this board since obviously if I wanted pure speed/handling I could go BMW. To get decent luxury in a BMW you pretty much need to add $10K for all the options and even then IMHO the Audis are nicer. But the prices on the Audis have gone somewhat stratospheric since I bought my '98 A4 brand new. At that time the Audi was pretty loaded for the same price as a low end 3-series that was a lot more stripped. Nowadays Audi (to their credit) is seen much more positively than they were in the late '90s.
FN...message me and I'll give you the scoop if you want. Most here know it already.
10 years ago I was able to get a sport packaged equipped Audi A3 for about $30K out the door, nowadays, that wouldn't get me a loaded GTI.
Seems to me you might want to try the Golf R, reviews seem to say it is nice, refined, and should give that tight agile feel your looking for at under $40K, if you can find one. I didn't like the A3 for it's too small trunk, too plain interior, but I did like how light and toss-able the chassis felt.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I recently went from my 535i to a Mazda3 S with a manual trannie, for much of the same reasons you are citing regarding your TL.
I've been pleased with the change thus far.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
I am not trying to be harsh here I just need to hear your pleasantry regarding this change.
I always try to go a step up on the food chain in regards to car- new or used- not boasting, just a goal I set.
Currently 535XI- next, probably a 550XI (new) or a 650 (used).
The TLX really does have some significant features beyond your TL. It's much safer, gets higher mpg, has 4 wheel steering, as well as a lot of other things just being dreamed of ten years ago.
I liked the handling of our Mazda5 too, but it failed the IIHS crash test. Since the Mazda5 essentially killed the dummy inside, we sold it.
Did you like the ILX?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Some continue to climb the ladder; others step off at the floor that pleases them, or even step down. Perhaps the vehicle has a steering wheel actually connected (mechanically) the the front axle. Perhaps it has a dipstick. Perhaps you don't have to have it towed to the dealer when the battery goes dead. Perhaps it has real tires and a spare.
Go figure.
"Some continue to climb the ladder; others step off at the floor that pleases them, or even step down. Perhaps the vehicle has a steering wheel actually connected (mechanically) the the front axle. Perhaps it has a dipstick. Perhaps you don't have to have it towed to the dealer when the battery goes dead. Perpahs it has real tires and a spare."
This implies that we (car lovers) should take public transportation and forget about the calamity of cars .
Some continue to climb the ladder; others step off at the floor that pleases them, or even step down. Perhaps the vehicle has a steering wheel actually connected (mechanically) the the front axle. Perhaps it has a dipstick. Perhaps you don't have to have it towed to the dealer when the battery goes dead. Perhaps it has real tires and a spare.
Go figure.
I buy whatever makes me smile. The badge or model number is never a factor. I don't judge the goodness of a car by the number of envious glances it generates or how well it telegraphs my disposable income to other motorists. That said, I would never discourage anyone from buying a 550i or 650i, as I own stock in Exide Technologies...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I'm beyond the "stepping up the food chain" with my car purchases, and appreciate what different cars have to offer. On top of that, I change out of cars often enough that I'm only committed to a particular purchase as long as I am enjoying it, thus giving me the "freedom" to try different cars out.
When I say I am pleased with the change, it has nothing to do with directly comparing the BMW and the Mazda3 - perhaps that was misleading. For what type of car I was looking for, the Mazda really fit the bill well.
I was sort of in a large sedan mode with the 535i (xdrive), having also just come out of a Passat. But with a nice comfortable minivan as the family hauler, I had the freedom and yearning to return to something more on the compact, sportier side for my daily driver. I also was interested in a manual transmission. Such cars are becoming more and more scarce, and the Mazda 3 is a nice choice for those priorities (I also considered a WRX and Civic Si, but liked the overall balance of the Mazda. And my wife already has a GTI, or I probably would have gone that route). The Mazda is very engaging to drive, requiring driver involvement to best take advantage of its (relatively low by today's standards) 184 hp through the slick 6-speed manual.
I most frequently post on the CCBA forum, and those that participate there know me (and my habits) fairly well. Lest my current ride be taken as speaking out of place on this particular forum, I have indeed owned several ELLPS vehicles, mostly various 3-series. I've also owned three 5-series, one of each from the past three models (E39, E60 and F10). The F10, while superbly comfortable and sharp-looking, just didn't hit the same notes as my earlier BMWs - that wasn't surprising based on test drives; I knew full well what I was getting into. I just didn't realize how much I'd be longing for the increased driver involvement.
So, I went for the total contrast in the Mazda 3. Within a year or two, I suspect I'll land somewhere in the middle, having my eye on a 4-series GC once they start hitting the used market.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
Or...put simpler, what @roadburner said.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
I'm sure after 10 years with my TL I would find some things lacking in a smaller car like the Mazda (I suspect noisier, tinnier, etc.). Of course my TL is tinnier than my A4 was. But boy it is nice to have high reliability and reasonable parts cost. I suppose we are all looking for that German feel with the reliability of the Asian makes. I'm sure for those who lease or keep a vehicle a short time it's not so important, but I'm a minimum 100K miles type of guy and so reliability is kind of important.